For food lovers, Sukhumvit is one of the most rewarding parts of Bangkok to stay in. The long road and its numbered side streets, or sois, pack in everything from street food carts and noodle shops to chic cafe, Japanese izakayas, rooftop bars and some of the city’s most exciting restaurants. Around Asok, the Terminal 21 mall is known for its affordable food court, while further east, Thonglor and Ekkamai are home to a buzzing cafe culture and a huge choice of Japanese and modern Thai dining. Each part of Sukhumvit has its own character, so it’s worth deciding what kind of eating you enjoy most before choosing where to stay. Do you want street food stalls at your door, or a short walk to the city’s trendiest cafe?
Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18
“In the lively Sukhumvit area, amid some of Bangkok’s best street food stalls, restaurants.” (Oyster)
Oyster describes Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18 as sitting on a relatively quiet, tree-lined road just off busy Sukhumvit Road, surrounded by bars, shops and restaurants and close to the Terminal 21 shopping mall. The hotel has a cool boutique feel, with bold checkerboard tiling, colourful striped carpets and quirky armchairs. Rooms are light and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Oyster notes that the hotel’s real strength is its apartment-style rooms, which give guests the flexibility to self-cater as well as eat out. A Bangkok.com review on the hotel group’s blog adds that every room and suite has a kitchen, which is handy for anyone with dietary requirements or who wants to bring back treats from the markets. The same review notes that the hotel is about 600 metres from the BTS Skytrain and MRT, with many recommended restaurants and bars close by. On site, The Coffee Club serves meals throughout the day, and there’s a rooftop plunge pool for cooling off between food stops. Benchasiri Park and the Emporium mall are also within easy reach. For travellers wondering which are the best hotels in Sukhumvit with easy access to restaurants and cafés, it offers a calm base with the area’s food scene right on the doorstep.
Hotel Nikko Bangkok
“The 301-room Japan-born Hotel Nikko is looking to tempt food lovers with two restaurants.” (Time Out Bangkok)
Time Out Bangkok describes Hotel Nikko Bangkok as a Japanese hotel on Soi Thonglor, close to Thong Lo BTS station. It blends Japanese service with Thai hospitality, and it has clearly been designed with food lovers in mind. The Oasis serves all-day dining, while Hishou puts tempura and sake at the centre of the menu. That’s a natural fit for Thonglor, one of the best areas in Bangkok for Japanese cuisine. Time Out also notes that each of the 301 rooms has a Japanese-style bathroom, and that the hotel has a lounge, a spa and an outdoor pool. Step outside and you’re in the heart of one of the city’s trendiest dining neighbourhoods. The Commons and EmSphere, both packed with cafes and restaurants, are only a short drive away. It suits travellers who want refined Japanese style and quick access to Thonglor’s cafe and restaurant scene.
Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
“Close to Thonglor BTS and in the hipster neighbourhood of Thonglor itself.” (City Nomads)
Lifestyle guide City Nomads describes Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit as a tall, modern tower on Sukhumvit Soi 57, close to Thong Lo BTS station. From here, the cool bars, cafes and restaurants of Thonglor and Ekkamai are an easy walk or a short taxi ride away. Inside, the daily buffet breakfast at 57th Street impresses with its variety, and The District has a reputation as one of Bangkok’s best steakhouses. Oyster adds that the hotel opened in 2013 and has five restaurants, including the Octave rooftop bar and lounge, along with a rooftop infinity pool and a spa. It also notes that a number of trendy restaurants, bars and clubs are within walking distance. Evenings can start with sunset drinks at Octave, high above Sukhumvit, before heading down to explore the area’s restaurants. It suits travellers who want a polished hotel with standout dining of its own and a lively food scene all around.
Conclusion
Sukhumvit rewards travellers who plan their days around meals, whether that means a bowl of noodles from a street stall, a coffee in a Thonglor cafe or a dinner at a Japanese counter. A calm, apartment-style hotel near Asok, a Japanese hotel in the heart of Thonglor and a modern tower with its own steakhouse and rooftop bar each put great food within easy reach. If you have time for just one food stop on your first day, head to Terminal 21’s food court near Asok. It’s a simple, affordable introduction to Thai flavours before you set out to explore the rest of Sukhumvit.
